Australian design has often looked outward for inspiration, but increasingly it is finding itself at the centre of some of the industry‘s most influential global events.

In recent months, two Australian brands have stepped onto major international platforms in very different ways. One through a high-profile collaboration unveiled during Milan Design Week, the other through a dedicated exhibition and program during Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign festival. Together, they point to a growing confidence in Australian design and its place within the global conversation.

At Salone del Mobile in Milan, Australian timber flooring specialist Tongue & Groove appeared as part of Established & Sons’ 2026 presentation through GridWork, a new flooring collection developed in collaboration with London-based studio Raw Edges. The collection reinterprets the square grid pattern in solid oak, combining Raw Edges’ playful approach to form with Tongue & Groove’s expertise in timber craftsmanship. The collaboration formed part of Established & Sons’ wider showcase alongside new work by designers including Carlo Nason, Sebastian Wrong and Nathan Martell.

The partnership was also explored in a special episode of STORIESINDESIGN, recorded live from the Established & Sons stand in Milan, where Tongue & Groove’s Richard Karsay joined Raw Edges founders Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay to discuss the project and the broader energy of Milan Design Week.

Related: Tom Kundig joins the podcast in Sydney

Meanwhile, Australian furniture and lighting brand NAU took its own place on the international stage at Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign. Presented by Cult, The Moment is NAU showcases the brand’s collection of furniture and lighting alongside a program of conversations examining contemporary Australian design within a global context.

The exhibition featured works by leading Australian designers including Adam Goodrum and Tom Fereday, while a panel discussion explored how designers balance legacy, craft and material integrity with contemporary cultural and environmental concerns. An accompanying publication and industry gathering, NAU, Later, further position the brand as a cultural contributor rather than simply a product exhibitor.

The two projects are different in scale and format, but they share a common thread. Neither presents Australian design as something peripheral or regional. Instead, both position it as part of an ongoing international dialogue about design, making and collaboration.

As Milan and Copenhagen continue to set the agenda for global design, it’s significant to see Australian brands appearing not as observers, but as collaborators, exhibitors and hosts. If Tongue & Groove and NAU are any indication, Australian design is becoming an increasingly visible part of the international conversation.

Tongue & Groove
tongueandgroove.com.au

Established & Sons
establishedandsons.com

Raw Edges
raw-edges.com

Cult
cultdesign.com.au

NAU
naudesign.com